Pump and sealing unit therefor



May 18, 1965 w. c. GAYNOR PUMP AND SEALING UNIT THEREFOR \M 1 W ,2 2 H w4 Q m 2 S 3 2 Filed Sept. 12, 1963 May 18, 1965 w. c. GAYNOR PUMP ANDSEALING UNIT THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 12, 1963 .D .0 N 9 .Db 8 m m 7 ,4 0 2 G w H, m w M a h 3 4 w 2 4A 5 a a 13 E m S a ahw aa 3 wx 2 INVENTOR.

WILL/AM C. GAYNOR United States Patent 3,183,841 P SEALING UNIT THEREFORWilliam C. Gaynor, 1835 N. New England, Chicago, Ill. Filed Sept. 12,1963, Ser. No. 3tl8,432 4 Claims. (Cl. 103111) This invention relates topumps and sealing units therefor. More particularly, this inventionrelates to centrifugal suction pumps used in hydraulic dredgingoperations, and sealing units therefor.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedcentrifugal suction pump and a new and improved sealing unit therefor.

One of the problems encountered in centrifugal suction pumps of the typeused in hydraulic dredging operations is the fact that the water drawnthrough the pump contains finely divided clay, sand, and other abrasivematerials which tend to wear away the sealing means or units arrangedbetween the front head of the pump housing or casing and the rotaryimpeller of the pump with the result that a portion of the water andentrained material flowing through the pump leaks between the front headof the pump casing and the rotary impeller with the result that the pumploses part of its operating efficiency.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedcentrifugal suction pump which is particularly adapted for use withhydraulic dredging equipment and a new and improved sealing unittherefor which, in use, overcome the foregoing and other difiicultiesexperienced in those prior centrifugal suction pumps and sealing unitstherefor.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedsealing unit for providing a watertight seal between the front headliner of a centrifugal hydraulic pump and the rotary impeller unitembodied therein.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedcentrifugal hydraulic pump embodying a new and improved flexible andresilient and compressible annular sealing unit for providing aneffective water-tight seal between thefront head line of the pump andthe adjacent lateral wall surface of the rotary impeller unit of thepump, and to provide a novel construction and arrangement for supportingand retaining the flexible and resilient and compressible annularsealing unit under compression so as to urge the sealing surface thereofinto sealing engagement with the adjacent lateral surface of the rotaryimpeller unit of the pump.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedcentrifugal pump and a new and improved sealing unit therefor whichembodies means for utilizing a stream of clean water supplied from anoutside source thereof, which is independent of the stream of water andentrained sand, clay, etc., entering the pump through the suction inlet,for the purpose of lubricating the area of surface contact between therotary impeller of the pump and the sealing unit embodied therein, andbetween the rotary impeller and the stationary front head of the pumphousing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedsealing unit for use in connection with centrifugal hydraulic suctionpumps.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings: a

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation,of a centrifugal pump embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view of the areaindicated by the legend FIG. 2 in FIG. 1

3,133,841 Patented May 18, 1965 and showing the construction of one formof the invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail view of the sealing unit shown inFIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the new sealing unit, online 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional detail view similar to FIG. 2 butillustrating a modification of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of another modification of theinvention; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a modification of thesealing unit embodied in the invention.

A centrifugal pump embodying a preferred form of the invention isillustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, inclusive, of the drawings, where it isgenerally indicated at 10, and includes a pump housing or casing 11which includes a front head liner 12 having a flanged portion 13 towhich there is detachably attached a flange 42 on the front head 14 ofthe pump housing 10. The new centrifugal pump includes a suction mouthliner 15 which provides a supporting member for supporting the newflexible, resilient and compressible annular sealing unit and forretaining the same under compression, as will be described hereinafter.

The front head 14 of the pump housing 11 has a suc: tion water inletopening 16 therein through which water and entrained material flows intothepump housing 11. The pump housing 11 has a water outlet opening 17and arranged within the pump housing is a rotor or rotary impeller 18,of conventional design, which is adapted to be rotated within the pumphousing 11 by means of a suitable motor unit 19 and driving mechanism20, as is well understood in the art.

A preferred form of the new sealing unit is shown in FIGS. 1 to 5,inclusive, of the drawings, where it is generally indicated at 21, andis preferably made of any suitable synthetic oil and grease-resistantresinous elastomer polymer such, for example, as Buna S or Buna N, andincludes an annular hollow resilient body portion 22 with which there isintegrally formed an outwardly or laterally extending annular shankattaching portion 23 which is adapted to be adhesively or otherwisesuitably secured or anchored in an annular groove or channel 24, whichis formed in the suction mouth liner 15 of the new pump.

The annular hollow body portion 22 of the sealing unit 21 includes aradially inner or bottom wall 25 which is provided with an annular rowof spaced openings 26 therein arranged at spaced intervals radiallytherearound.

The annular hollow body 22 of the flexible and resilient sealing unit 21includes a front sealing wall portion 27 and this front sealing wallportion 27 has an annular row of radially arranged outlet openings 28formed therein and arranged at spaced intervals radially therearound.

The front sealing wall 27 of the annular hollow body 22 of the flexibleand resilient sealing unit 21 has a radially arranged row ofcompressible and deformable undulated sealing portions or protuberances29 formed thereon, it being noted that the openings 28 are spacedradially inwardly of the sealing protuberances 29, for a purpose whichwill be described presently.

The annular hollow body 22 of the new flexible and resilient sealingunit 21 has an annular internal cavity 34 therein and the annular hollowbody 22 of the sealing unit is disposed in an annular recess 35 which isprovided between and by the inner wall of the suction mouth liner 15,the radially outer wall of the front head liner 12, and the adjacentouter wall of the body of the rotary impeller unit 20 (FIG. 2).

In the practice of the present invention, the front head 14 of the newcentrifugal pump has a series of radially arranged auxiliary water inletopenings 30 formed therein which communicate at their outer sides withan independent source or supply of clean water under pressure (notshown), as is customary in the art, and these auxiliary water inlets 30communicate at their inner end with a passage 31 which is providedbetween the front head 14 and the front head liner .12 of the new pump1% The passage 311 communicates with a row of radially arrange-dpassages 32 which are formed in and are spaced at radial intervalsaround the front head liner 12 and these passages 32 communicate attheir inner ends with a relatively narrow and restricted area 33 whichis provided between the inner surface of the front head liner 12 and thebody of the rotor or rotary impeller 20 (FIGS. 2 and 3).

The annular hollow body 22 of the new sealing unit 21 may be insertedinto position of use in the annular pa-ssage 35 in the centrifugal pump10 by inserting the rearwardly extending attaching shank portion 23thereof into the mounting channel 24 of the suction mouth liner andadhesively or otherwise securing it therein, and when the parts of thenew pump are assembled in position of use the annular hollow body 22 ofthe flexible and resilient sealing unit 21 is placed under compressionwith the result that the forwardly projecting front wall 27 thereof andthe sealing portions or pro-tuberances 29 thereon bear Iaterally againstand contact the adjacent lateral face or surface of the body of therotary impeller unit 26.

In the use of the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5,inclusive, of the drawings, the annular ho1 low body 22 of the flexibleand resilient sealing unit 21 is supported and retained undercompression by the suction mouth liner 15 of the pump housing 11 so asto force the undulated sealing protuberances 29 into sealing engagementwith the adjacent outer lateral wall surface of the rotary impeller 20.Accordingly, when the rotor or rotary impeller unit 20 is rota-ted bythe motor unit 19 and driving mechanism 20 water and entrained materialenters the pump housing 11 through the suction water inlet 16 and flowstherethrough into the pump housing 11 from which it is forced by therotary impeller 20 out through the outlet opening 17 of the pump housing11. At the same, time clean Water from an independent supply or sourcethereof (not shown) flows through the inlet openings 30 in the fronthead 14 of the new pump and thence by way of the passage 31 and thepassage 32, in the front head liner 12, into the restricted area 33 andthence into the area 35 from which a portion of the water flows throughthe inlet openings 26 into the interior 3 4 of the annular hollow bodyof the flexible and resilient sealing unit 21. The clean water thenflows by way of the outlet openings 28 from the interior of the annularhollow body 22 of the flexible and resilient sealing unit 21 into therestricted area 33 between the front head liner 12 and the body of therotary impeller 20, thereby effectively lubricating the area of contactbetween the flexible and deformable undulated sealing protuberances 29'and the adjacent lateral surface of the rotary impeller 20 andpreventing undue abrasion of the sealing unit 21 which would occur ifwater and entrained abrasive sand, and clay, etc., entering the suctioninlet opening 16 were allowed to flow into the restricted area 33between the front head liner 12 and the body of the rotary impeller 20.

During the operation of the new centrifugal pump, with the water flowingas described above, the flexible and resilient sealing unit 21effectively seals the area 33 between the front head liner 12 andadjacent lateral face of the body of the rotary impeller 20', due to thesealing engagement of the inwardly projecting undulated sealingprotuberances 29 thereon with the laterally outer face of the bodyof'the rotary impeller unit 20 and thus an effective seal is providedpreventing the clean water from escaping out of the pump housing 11between the laterally outer face of the rotary impeller 20 and the newsealing unit 21. At the same time, the laterally inner face 36 of theinner Wall 27 of the annular body 22 of the flexible and resilient unit21, being spaced slightly outwardly of the laterally outer face orsurface of the body of the rotary impeller 24 provides an extension ofthe restricted area 33 between the front head liner 12 and the laterallyouter face of the rotary impeller 20 upwardly past the laterally innersunface 36 of the annular body 22 of the flexible and resilient sealingunit 21 and up to the undulated flexible sealing protuberances 29 (FIGS.2 and 3).

A modification of one feature of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 6of the drawings and in this form of the invention those parts thereofwhich are similar to or comparable to corresponding parts in the form ofthe invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, inclusive, have been givingsimilar reference numerals followed by the addi tional anddistinguishing reference character a.

The form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawings issubstantially the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, inclusive, exceptthat in this form of the invention a radially arranged row of angularlyextending passages 37 is formed in the front head liner 12a of the pumphousing 1111 so that a supply of clean water from a source (not shown)may enter through the opening 32a in the front head 14a of the pump andflow up through the passage 31a and through the angular passages 37 inthe front head liner 12a into the area-35a and thence by way of theinlet openings-26a into the interior of the annular hollow body 34a ofthe flexible and resilient sealing unit 21a, and thence into therestricted area 33a between the laterally outer face of the rotaryimpeller 20a and the front head 12a, so as to lubricate the area betweenthe laterally outer surface of the rotary impeller 20a and the innersurface of the flexible and resilient sealing unit 21a while, at thesame time, an effective seal is provided between the laterally outersurface of the rotary impeller 20 and the undulated sealingprotuberances 294 on the annular body 22a of the flexible and resilientsealing unit 21a, with the same results and advantages as are describedabove in the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, inclusive.

A further modification of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 7 of thedrawings and in this form of the invention those parts thereof which aresimilar or comparable to corresponding parts in the form of theinvention shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, inclusive, have been given the samereference numerals followed by the additional and distinguishingreference character b.

The centrifugal pump 10b illustrated in FIG. 7 is somewhat ditferent indesign and construction than the centrifugal pump 10 illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 5, inclusive, and from the form shown in FIG. 6, and in thisform of the invention the annular side wall 38 of the pump housing 11b,which surrounds the suction inlet 16b, has a series of radially arrangedand angularly extending passages 39 therein which extend inwardly fromthe outer surface of the wall 38 of the pump housing 11b so as toconduct a supply of clean water from a source thereof (not shown) intothe space 40 provided between the suction mouth liner 15b and the hub 41of the rotary impeller Ztlb and associated parts and thence into thebody of the flexible and resilient sealing unit 21b, in the manner andfor the purposes described in connection with the form of the inventionillustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, inclusive, and the form of the inventionillustrated in FIG. 6.

A modification of the new sealing unit feature of the invention isillustrated in FIG. 8 of the drawings, and this form of the newsealingunit is substantially the same as that illustrated in FIGS. 1 to5, inclusive, and hence these parts thereof which are similar to orcomparable to the sealing unit embodied in the form of the inventionillustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, inclusive, and that embodiedin the form ofthe invention illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, have been given the samereference numerals followed by the additional and distinguishingreference character c.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 8 of the drawings theundulated sealing protuberances 29 formed on the laterally inner surfaceof the annular hollow body 22 of the sealing unit 21 have beeneliminated and in place thereof the entire lateral surface 360 of thebody 220 of the sealing unit 210 serves as a sealing surface andcontacts the adjacent outer lateral wall surface of the rotary impeller200 to provide the desired sealing engagement between these parts.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, considered inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, that the present inventionprovides a new and improved centrifugal pump and sealing unit thereforhaving the desirable advantages and characteristics, and accomplishingits intended objects, including those hereinbefore pointed out andothers which are inherent in the invention.

I claim:

1. A pump comprising a pump housing having a suction water inlet and awater outlet, a rotary impeller in the said pump housing and including alateral wall surface facing toward the said water inlet opening, aflexible and resilient annular sealing unit including an annular hollowbody having a lateral sealing surface facing toward and engaging thesaid lateral wall surface of the said rotary impeller, and means carriedby the said housing for supporting the said flexible annular sealingunit and retaining the said annular hollow body thereof undercompression and for urging the said lateral sealing surface thereof intosealing engagement with the said lateral surface of the said rotaryimpeller, the said means for supporting the said flexible and resilientsealing unit including a suction mouth liner arranged about the saidinlet opening of the said pump, the said suction mouth liner having anannular groove formed therein, and the said flexible and resilientsealing unit including an annular anchoring flange mounted undercompression in the said annular groove in the said suction mouth liner.

2. A pump comprising a pump housing having a suction water inlet and awater outlet, a rotary impeller in the said pump housing and including alateral Wall surface facing toward the said water inlet opening, aflexible and resilient annular sealing unit including an annular hollowbody having a lateral sealing surface facing toward and engaging thesaid lateral wall surface of the said rotary impeller, means carried bythe said housing for supporting the said flexible annular sealing unitand retaining the said annular hollow body thereof under compression andfor urging the said lateral sealing surface thereof into sealingengagement with the said lateral surface of the said rotary impeller,the said annular body of the said flexible and resilient sealing unitbeing hollow and compressible and having an annular anchoring flangeportion formed integrally therewith and projecting laterally therefromat the side of the said.

7 in the said annular groove in the said supporting memher, the saidannular hollow body of the said flexible and resilient sealing unithaving a series of sealing protuberances formed integrally therein inthe said lateral sealing surface thereof and arranged radiallytherearound, the said sealing protuberances being mounted undercompression and being urged into sealing engagement with the saidlateral surface of the said rotary impeller by the mounting of the saidannular anchoring flange portion of the said annular body of the saidflexible and resilient sealing unit in the said annular groove in thesaid supporting member, the said annular hollow body of the saidflexible and resilient sealing unit including a bottom wall having anannular row of water inlet openings therein communicating with theinterior of the said annular hollow body of the said sealing unit, thesaid lateral sealing surface of the said annular hollow body of the saidflexible and resilient sealing unit having an annular row of spacedwater outlet openings formed therein radially inwardly of the saidsealing protuberanees and communicating with the interior of the saidannular hollow body of the said sealing unit, and the said pumpincluding passageway means for conducting a stream of clean water intothe said water inlet openings in the said annular hollow body of thesaid flexible and resilient sealing unit whereby the said stream ofclean water will flow through the said annular hollow body of the saidsealing unit and out of the latter through the said water outletopenings therein against the said lateral surface of the said rotaryimpeller radially inwardly of the said sealing protuberances on the saidsealing surface of the said annular hollow body of the said flexible andresilient sealing unit.

3. A pump as defined in claim 1 in which the said annular hollow body ofsaid sealing unit has an annular row of radially arrangedcircumferentially spaced compressible sealing protuberances thereonhaving sealing engagement with the said lateral wall surface of saidrotary impeller. I

4. A pump as defined in claim 1 in which the said annular hollow body ofthe said sealing unit has a relatively flat, smooth uninterruptedsurface facing toward and having sealing engagement with the saidlateral wall surface of said rotary impeller.

References (Iited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,525,884 2/25Plummer 253-77 .3 1,990,618 2/35 Schoene 277- 2,109,679 3/38 Neveling103-l1 2,736,265 2/56 Higgins 103-114 2,779,611 1/57 Wernert 1031113,063,727 11/62 Schenck 103-111 3,081,975 3/63 Sproule et al. 25377.3

FOREIGN PATENTS 165,365 7/53 Australia.

907,416 6/ 45 France. 1,081,749 6/54 France.

688,624 2/ 40 Germany.

KARL I. ALBRECHT, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH H. BRANSON, JR., Examiner.

1. A PUMP COMPRISING A PUMP HOUSING HAVING A SUCTION WATER INLET AND AWATER OUTLET, A ROTARY IMPELLER IN THE SAID PUMP HOUSING AND INCLUDING ALATERAL WALL SURFACE FACING TOWARD THE SAID WATER INLET OPENING, AFLEXIBLE AND RESILIENT ANNULAR SEALING UNIT INCLUDING AN ANNULAR HOLLOWBODY HAVING A LATERAL SEALING SURFACE FACING TOWARD AND ENGAGING THESAID LATERAL WALL SURFACE OF THE SAID ROTARY IMPELLER, AND MEANS CARRIEDBY THE SAID HOUSING FOR SUPPORTING THE SAID FLEXIBLE ANNULAR SEALINGUNIT AND RETAINING THE SAID ANNULAR HOLLOW BODY THEREOF UNDERCOMPRESSION AND FOR URGING THE SAID LATERAL SEALING SURFACE THEREOF INTOSEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SAID LATERAL SURFACE OF THE SAID ROTARYIMPELLER, THE SAID MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE SAID FLEXIBLE AND RESILIENTSEALING UNIT INCLUDING A SUCTION MOUTH LINER ARRANGED ABOUT THE SAIDINLET OPENING OF THE SAID PUMP, THE SAID SUCTION MOUTH LINER HAVING ANANNULAR GROOVE FORMED THEREIN, AND THE SAID FLEXIBLE AND RESILIENTSEALING UNIT INCLUDING AN ANNULAR ANCHORING FLANGE MOUNTED UNDERCOMPRESSION IN THE SAID ANNULAR GROOVE IN THE SAID SUCTION MOUTH LINER.